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CRIMINAL LAW DEPARTMENT
Information Sheet 3
Returning to a Police Station |
The Police have released you on bail with an
obligation to return to the Police Station.
The Police usually bail a suspect while they make further investigations
into a case or seek advice from their lawyers, the Crown Prosecution
Service, as to whether they have enough evidence to charge the
suspect.
It is a separate criminal offence not to return to the Police
Station when required to do so. The Police often charge people
with this offence, and use this as a reason for not giving them
bail again.
The day before you are due to return to the Police Station,
we will make enquiries of the Police to try and find out what
they are intending to do when you return. This is not always
possible for various reasons. Often the officer in charge of
the case is out when we telephone, and the Police do not always
return our calls. However, we will do our best to find out in
advance what action the Police propose to take. This should
be one of the following alternatives :
- The Police may have decided not to charge you with anything,
in which case they should confirm to you that they propose
to take no further action against you.
- If the Police have not completed their enquiries, or
the Officer has forgotten you are due to return or is out
doing something else, you will be re-bailed to attend again
on a subsequent occasion. This is very annoying and can
occur more than once. Unfortunately there is little we can
do about it unless it keeps happening.
- The Police may have some further enquiries to make, and
may wish to interview you again. This will be the case if
they have obtained some fingerprint evidence or you have
been picked out on an identification parade. You could then
be charged or rebailed, or the Police might tell you that
no further action is to be taken against you.
- If the Police have decided to charge you with an offence,
they will photograph you and take your fingerprints, charge
you, and then give you a date to attend Court about four
weeks later. The Police should be able to give you bail
until the Court hearing, providing that you have attended
at the Police Station as required.
It is normally only necessary for us to attend the Police Station
with a client if the Police are intending to conduct another
interview. Please telephone us the day before you are due back
at the Police Station so we can discuss whether or not we need
to go with you.
If we do not attend with you and a query or unexpected development
arises while you are at the Police Station, you should not do
anything until you have spoken with us. You can either telephone
our office or ring our emergency pager number or one of our
mobile numbers.
If you are re-bailed or charged with an offence, please immediately
tell us the date you have been given to return to the Police
Station or to attend Court, so that we can put the date in our
diary and make arrangements for you to be represented on the
next occasion.
If there is anything you do not understand, or you have any
queries, please contact us.
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